Managing inventory data for a distributed cache provided by a plurality of wireless mobile devices

ABSTRACT

An apparatus and computer program product are disclosed for distributing inventory data for a distributed cache provided by a plurality of wireless mobile communication devices. A first inventory data is received from a first wireless mobile communication device, and a second inventory data is received from a second wireless mobile communication device. The first inventory data and the second inventory data are compared to identify one or more matching data resources. In response to identifying one or more matching data resources, a matching inventory data that identifies the one or more matching data resources is sent to the first wireless mobile communication device. The matching inventory data enables the first wireless mobile communication device to access each of the one or more matching data resources stored on the second wireless mobile communication device.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to an apparatus or computer programproduct for managing inventory data of a distributed cache provided by aplurality of wireless mobile communication devices.

DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART

Mobile devices such as mobile telephones are commonly used for dataintensive activities such as information retrieval. Such intensive dataactivities have a negative effect on a mobile communications networksince data transmission capacity of the mobile communications networkmay be limited or expensive.

There are several potential solutions to this problem. One such solutioncomprises caching data in a distributed cache provided by the mobiledevices themselves such that each mobile device provides part of thestorage required for the cache, and that the cache is shared among agroup of mobile devices. Different caching policies are provided, eachaimed at improving effectiveness of the distributed cache. However,problems arise with some mobile caching systems because of theirintrinsically opportunistic nature. Each mobile device must discoverrelevant data by scanning the caches of all neighboring devices.Periodically scanning all neighboring devices to determine if relevantdata exists in the neighboring devices uses a significant amount ofpower.

SUMMARY

Disclosed are an apparatus and computer program product for distributinginventory data for a distributed cache provided by a plurality ofwireless mobile communication devices. The computer program productcomprises program instructions for: receiving first inventory data froma first wireless mobile communication device, the first inventory dataidentifying one or more data resources associated with the firstwireless mobile communication device; receiving second inventory datafrom a second wireless mobile communication device, the second inventorydata identifying one or more data resources associated with the secondwireless mobile communication device; comparing the first inventory dataand the second inventory data to identify one or more matching dataresources; and in response to identifying one or more matching dataresources, sending, to the first wireless mobile communication device, amatching inventory data that identifies the one or more matching dataresources, wherein the matching inventory data enables the firstwireless mobile communication device to access each of the one or morematching data resources stored on the second wireless mobilecommunication device.

The matching inventory data may further comprise an identification ofthe second device so as to enable the first wireless mobilecommunication device to initiate a connection directly with the seconddevice. Receiving and sending of the inventory data may be performedusing a first wireless communications network. The first and seconddevices create a peer-to-peer network to enable the access by the firstwireless mobile communication device to the matching data resourcestored on the second device. The method may comprise determining thelocation of the first and second devices. In another embodiment thesending of the matching inventory data may only be performed if thefirst and second devices are within a predetermined proximity. Thelocation may be a predicted proximity determined for a predeterminedfuture time period. The one or more data resources may comprise one ormore of a data subscription, a data topic, a data category, a data item,a search term, a user preference, and a user interest.

The first wireless mobile communication device may further compile thefirst inventory data, send the first inventory data to a distributedcache (DC) server application program that is further configured toidentify one or more other wireless mobile communication devices of theplurality of mobile devices having the one or more matching dataresources, and receive the matching inventory data identifying thesecond device. In response to the first wireless mobile communicationdevice receiving the matching inventory data, a user alert may betriggered. The first inventory data may identify any resources availablefrom the first device to the second device or any resources required bythe first device and/or may identify resources required by the firstdevice that are available from the second device.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present disclosure can be better understood by referring to thefollowing description when read in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, in which same or similar reference numerals are used to denotesame or similar components. The drawings, together with the followingdetailed description, are included in the specification and form partthereof, and are used to further illustrate, by way of example,embodiments of the present disclosure and to explain principles andadvantages of the present disclosure.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communications network according to anembodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a client application program ofone of the wireless mobile communication devices of FIG. 1 according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a user profile comprising a user-definedinventory of data resources used by the client application program ofFIG. 2 according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of a server application program according toan embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 5 is an illustration of a table of user profile data used by theserver application program of FIG. 4 according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure;

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram of a method performed by a client applicationprogram according to an embodiment of the present disclosure;

FIG. 7 is a flow diagram of a method performed by the server applicationprogram according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; and

FIG. 8 is a flow diagram of a method performed by the client applicationprogram in response to receiving a notification from a distributed cache(DC) server application program, according to an embodiment of thepresent disclosure.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENT

Described herein is a system, method, and computer program product fordistributing inventory data in a distributed cache by a plurality ofwireless mobile communication devices. Although an illustrativeimplementation of one or more embodiments is provided below, thedisclosed systems and/or methods may be implemented using any number oftechniques. This disclosure should in no way be limited to theillustrative implementations, drawings, and techniques illustratedbelow, including the exemplary designs and implementations illustratedand described herein, but may be modified within the scope of theappended claims along with their full scope of equivalents.

It will be appreciated that for simplicity and clarity of illustration,elements shown in the figures have not necessarily been drawn to scale.For example, the dimensions of some of the elements may be exaggeratedrelative to other elements for clarity. Further, where consideredappropriate, reference numbers may be repeated among the figures toindicate corresponding or analogous features.

In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the presentdisclosure. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat the present disclosure may be practiced without these specificdetails. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, andcomponents have not been described in detail so as not to obscure thepresent disclosure.

With reference to FIG. 1, a communications system comprises a computer102 connected to a mobile communications core network 103, which in turnis connected to a mobile communications access network comprising a setof communications masts 104. Network 103 in combination withcommunications masts 104 provides mobile communications services to aplurality of mobile communications devices 105. In one embodiment mobilecommunications devices 105 are mobile and/or cellular telephones. In thepresent embodiment, each of the mobile communications devices 105 isfurther configured with a secondary wireless communications means, suchas WiFi™, which enables connection to WiFi™ hub 106 or a secondarywireless communications hub. WiFi™ hub 106 enables networkcommunications between mobile communications devices 105 as analternative to network 103 and communications masts 104. As will beunderstood by those skilled in the art, mobile communications devices105 need to be within a predetermined proximity 107 of WiFi™ hub 106 inorder to use WiFi™ hub 106 to connect to other mobile communicationsdevices 105.

With reference to FIG. 2, there is depicted a mobile communicationsdevice 105 comprising an operating system 201 that provides a processingplatform for a distributed cache (DC) client application program 202(also referred to herein as DC client 202). In the present embodiment,DC client 202 uses two main sets of data: a user profile 203 anddistributed cache (DC) data 204. DC client 202 is further configured tocommunicate with other DC clients 202 of the other mobile communicationsdevices 105 to enable sharing of respective DC data 204 between DCclients 202 of the other mobile communications devices 105. The sharingof the data occurs in accordance with user preferences defined in userprofile 203 of each mobile communication device 105.

With reference to FIG. 3, there is depicted user profile 203 whichcomprises a user-defined inventory of the data resources that DC client202 (FIG. 2) is permitted to make available within the distributedcache. In the present embodiment, user profile 203 also comprises aninventory of those data resources that a user wishes to obtain from thedistributed cache. That is, user profile 203 comprises an inventory ofboth DC data 204 available to other participating mobile communicationdevices 105 in addition to the data resources required or requested bythe user from the distributed cache and supplied from one or more othermobile communications devices 105 (FIG. 2). DC data 204 is defined inthe user profile 203 by a set of user selected DC data identifiers. Inthe present embodiment, the DC data identifiers are dependent on thetype of the data resource. A data resource may comprise one or more datasubscriptions, data topics, data categories, data items, search term,user preferences or user interests. Any suitable data resource may bedefined (including by a user) to be included in DC data 204, or may beretrieved from one or more other mobile communications devices 105.

With reference to FIG. 4, there is illustrated a block diagram ofcomputer 102 which comprises an operating system 401 configured toprovide a processing platform for a distributed cache (DC) serverapplication program 402 (also referred to herein as DC server 402). Inthe present embodiment, DC server 402 comprises at least two distinctmodules: a subscriber location module 403 and a data correlation module404. DC server 402 also stores a set of user profile data 405, which isin part collected from the DC client 202 of each of the mobilecommunications devices 105 (FIG. 2). Subscriber location module 403 isconfigured to determine the current location of each of the mobilecommunications devices 105. In one embodiment, subscriber locationmodule 403 is configured to determine the current location of each othermobile communications device(s) 105 every 10 minutes. Data correlationmodule 404 is configured to analyze user profile data 405 to determineany matches between DC data 204 defined in user profiles 203 collectedfrom each of the mobile communications devices 105 (FIG. 2).

With reference to FIG. 5, there is depicted a user profile data tablecomprising a user identifier (ID) for identifying other mobilecommunications devices 105, the location of each other mobilecommunications device 105 for the current time period as calculated bythe subscriber location module 403, and the user profile 203 orinventory data received from each other mobile communications device105. The data correlation module 404 is configured to determine, for agiven mobile communication device 105, other mobile communicationsdevice(s) 105 within a predetermined proximity 107 that have matching DCdata definitions. In response to detecting a match, DC server 402notifies each mobile communication device 105 within the predeterminedproximity 107 having matching DC data definitions. This notificationprovides an indication, and/or informs a user of a mobile communicationdevice 105 receiving the notification, of available data resources inthe distributed cache. The receiving mobile communication device maythen, via the DC client 202, negotiate the retrieval of any such data ofinterest from other mobile communication device(s) 105 withinpredetermined proximity 107 having relevant available data resources.The retrieval of the data is negotiated by the DC clients 202 of eachrespective mobile communications device 105. The retrieval is performedover a peer-to-peer network established via a secondary wirelesscommunication means or a secondary wireless communications hub (e.g. viaWiFi™ hub 106). Any other available secondary wireless communicationsmeans may be utilized. As will be understood by those skilled in theart, other available secondary wireless peer-to-peer mechanisms andcommunications means for communicating between DC clients on the mobilecommunication devices for sharing DC data may include, for example,Bluetooth™ WiMax™, or any other local wireless underlay network.

With reference to FIG. 6, there is depicted a flow chart of theprocessing method performed by DC client application program 202 oninitialization, in accordance with one embodiment of the disclosure. Atstep 601 processing of the DC client 202 is initiated in response to thestart-up of the DC client 202. At step 602 a data selection interface ispresented to enable selection and identification of data resources foruser profile 203. At step 603 the identified data resources are loggedin the user profile 203. At step 604 a connection to the DC server 402is established. At step 605 user profile 203 is uploaded to DC server402. At step 606 processing pauses until user profile 203 is againupdated. In response to the user profile 203 being updated, theprocessing returns to step 605 to upload the updated user profile 203.

With reference to the flow chart of FIG. 7, there is depicted a flowchart of a processing method performed by DC server application program402. At step 701 processing of DC server 402 is initiated in response tothe start-up of DC server 402 on a mobile communication device 105. Atstep 702 processing awaits the upload of a first user profile 203. Inresponse to receiving the first user profile, the uploaded user profile203 is logged in user profile data 405 (step 703). In one embodimentsteps 702-703 may repeat until two or more user profiles have beenuploaded into the user profile data 405 and may also further continuefor additional user profiles even while processing further continues asprovided below. At step 704 subscriber location module 403 is utilizedto determine the locations of each mobile communication device 105logged into user profile data 405. At step 705 data correlation module404 is utilized to determine matches between user profile data 405 andmobile communications devices 105 within a predetermined proximity 107.At step 706 a notification is compiled for each mobile communicationdevice 105. The notification comprises a list of the relevant dataresources available from corresponding identified mobile communicationdevices 105 within the predetermined proximity 107. At step 707 thecompiled notifications are sent to each of the identified mobilecommunication devices 105. Processing then waits for completion of arefresh period (step 708). Once the refresh period has beenreached/completed, the processing returns to step 704 and proceeds asdescribed above to further refresh the proximity and correlation databefore issuing updated notifications to mobile communications devices105 within a predetermined proximity 107.

With reference to the flow chart of FIG. 8, there is depicted theprocessing performed by a DC client application program 202 in responseto receiving a notification from DC server 402. At step 801 processingis initiated in response to the receipt of a notification from DC server402. At step 802 an alert is issued to signal the receipt of thenotification and processing waits for user interaction (step 803). If,at step 803, DC data is not selected, the process terminates (end step808). In response to receiving a selected DC data in response to thenotification (step 803), the processing moves to step 804 where thesources for the selected DC data are identified from the notification.At step 805 a connection is negotiated with each available source mobilecommunications device 105 having the DC data. At step 806 the selecteddata is retrieved from at least one connected source of the availablesource mobile communications devices 105. A notification is then issued,which provides an indication of the retrieval of the selected DC data(step 807). The processing then terminates at step 808.

In another embodiment, the user profile is further configured to enabledefining of two sets of inventory data. The first set of inventory datadefines the data resources available for sharing via the distributedcache. The second set of inventory data defines data resources that theuser wishes to source from the distributed cache. Thus, the second setof data defines the requested data resources and/or the data to besourced from the distributed cache. In the present embodiment, thenotifications received from the DC server comprise an identification ofthe resources for the requested data such as an identification of theother mobile communication devices within the distributed cache that mayprovide the requested data resource. The DC client may be furtherconfigured to provide only the first set of inventory data where onlydata sharing is required. Alternatively, the DC client may be configuredto provide only the second set of inventory data to the DC server whereonly data acquisition or sourcing is required.

In another embodiment, the DC server application is provided with dataidentifying the locations of suitable nodes for secondary wirelesscommunication between the mobile communication devices, such asavailable WiFi™ nodes. The location of such available nodes is takeninto account when determining proximity of devices for a givennotification. For example, the measure of relative proximity may becentered on a WiFi™ node so as to ensure that all relevant mobilecommunication devices contributing to the distributed cache are withinoperational range.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, the DC server may befurther configured to use any suitable location technique fordetermining the positions of the relevant mobile communication devices.For example, to locate mobile communication devices the DC server mayutilize network based systems, such as mobile signal triangulation, ordevice based systems, such as Global Positioning Satellites (GPS). Inanother embodiment the mobile communication devices are configured todetermine their own respective positions which may then be transmittedto the DC server.

In another embodiment, the DC client application program is configuredto perform part or all of the determination of which other mobilecommunication devices are within suitable proximity. For example, the DCserver may supply only the positions of other mobile communicationdevices in a notification. The DC clients then individually determinewhich other mobile communication devices are within a suitable proximitybased on their own self-calculated position. In another embodiment thelocation of mobile communication devices performed by either the DCserver or DC client are predictive such that positions of mobilecommunication devices are calculated for a future time slot.

As will be understood by those skilled in the art, any suitablecorrelation technique may be employed for determining correlationsbetween user profiles. In another embodiment, the data correlationmethod is predictive. User subscriptions or other data sources may bemonitored to determine data likely to be available on a given mobilecommunication device.

Embodiments of the disclosure provide a system in which mobilecommunication devices within the distributed cache gain prior knowledgefrom the network on the availability and proximity of relevant data inneighboring devices. With this knowledge, mobile communication deviceswithin the distributed cache passively engage in sharing subscribedcontent that is relevant to a user, thus conserving power. Embodimentsof the disclosure provide a deterministic content retrieval system inwhich participating mobile communication devices share targeted contentclasses.

Embodiments of the disclosure enable autonomous information sharingbetween anonymous neighboring mobile communication devices, minimallyassisted by the network through the use of optionally predictivelocation and optionally predictive content of the targeted mobilecommunication devices. The participating mobile communication devicesare able to acquire knowledge of content that the network has determinedto exist within a local area. By utilizing prediction techniques formobile location and content, the need for wide-spread scanning isremoved thus reducing the overhead on the network. Embodiments of thedisclosure differ from opportunistic distributed content sharing systemsby enabling devices to independently acquire knowledge of nearbyrelevant data and target the acquisition of this data, thus conservingenergy and enabling targeted content retrieval.

It will be understood by those skilled in the art that the apparatusthat embodies a part or all of the present disclosure may be a generalpurpose device having at least one processor, a memory, and a softwareexecuting on the at least one processor that is further configured toprovide a part or all of an embodiment of the disclosure. The device maybe a single device or a group of devices. The software may be a singleprogram or a set of programs. Furthermore, any or all of the softwareused to implement the disclosure can be communicated via any suitabletransmission or storage means so that the software can be loaded ontoone or more devices.

The present disclosure can take the form of a computer program productaccessible from a computer-usable or computer-readable storage deviceproviding program code for use by or in connection with a computer orany instruction execution system. For the purposes of this disclosure, acomputer usable or computer-readable storage device can be any tangibleapparatus that contains, stores, communicates, propagates, or transportsthe program for use by or in connection with the instruction executionsystem, apparatus, or device. The device can be an electronic, magnetic,optical, electromagnetic, or semiconductor system (or apparatus ordevice). Examples of a computer-readable storage device include asemiconductor or solid state memory, magnetic tape, a removable computerdiskette, a random access memory (RAM), a read only memory (ROM), arigid magnetic disk and an optical disk. Current examples of opticaldisks include compact disk read only memory (CD-ROM), compact diskread/write (CD-R/W), and DVD.

While the present disclosure has been described with reference toexemplary embodiments, and while the embodiments have been described inconsiderable detail, it will be understood by those skilled in the artthat various changes may be made and equivalents may be substituted forelements thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure.Additional advantages and modifications will readily appear to thoseskilled in the art. The description of the present disclosure has beenpresented for purposes of illustration and description, but is notintended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure in the formdisclosed. Many improvements, modifications, and variations will beapparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing fromthe scope and spirit of the present disclosure. In addition, manymodifications may be made to adapt a particular system, device orcomponent thereof to the teachings of the disclosure without departingfrom the essential scope thereof. The embodiment was chosen anddescribed in order to best explain the principles of the disclosure andthe practical application, and to enable others of ordinary skill in theart to understand the disclosure for various embodiments with variousmodifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated.Therefore, it is intended that the disclosure not be limited to theparticular embodiments disclosed for carrying out this disclosure, butthat the disclosure will include all embodiments falling within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for distributing inventory data fora distributed cache provided by a plurality of wireless mobilecommunication devices, the apparatus comprising: a processor; a systemmemory coupled to the processor; and program code that when executed bysaid processor provides a distributed cache (DC) server that: receivesfirst inventory data from a first wireless mobile communication device,said first inventory data identifying one or more data resourcesassociated with said first wireless mobile communication device;receives second inventory data from a second wireless mobilecommunication device, said second inventory data identifying one or moredata resources associated with said second wireless mobile communicationdevice; compares said first inventory data and said second inventorydata to identify one or more matching data resources; and in response toidentifying one or more matching data resources, sends, to said firstwireless mobile communication device, a matching inventory data thatidentifies said one or more matching data resources, wherein saidmatching inventory data enables said first wireless mobile communicationdevice to access each of said one or more matching data resources storedon said second wireless mobile communication device.
 2. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said matching inventory data furthercomprises an identification of said second wireless mobile communicationdevice, and wherein said matching inventory data enables said firstwireless mobile communication device to initiate a connection directlywith said second wireless mobile communication device.
 3. The apparatusaccording to claim 1, wherein said sending of said matching inventorydata to said first wireless mobile communication device is performedusing a first wireless communication network, and wherein said firstwireless mobile communication device and second wireless mobilecommunication device create a peer-to-peer network that enables saidaccess by said first wireless mobile communication device to said one ormore matching data resources stored on said second wireless mobilecommunication device.
 4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein theDC server: determines a location of said first wireless mobilecommunication device and said second wireless mobile communicationdevice; wherein said matching inventory data is sent to said firstwireless mobile communication device only if said first wireless mobilecommunication device and said second wireless mobile communicationdevice are within a predetermined proximity.
 5. The apparatus accordingto claim 4, wherein said location is a predicted proximity determinedfor a predetermined future time period.
 6. The apparatus according toclaim 1, wherein an inventory data of data resources comprises one ormore of: a data subscription, a data topic, a data category, a dataitem, a search term, a user preference, or a user interest.
 7. Theapparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first wireless mobilecommunication device: compiles said first inventory data on said firstwireless mobile communication device; sends said first inventory data tosaid DC server; receives, from said DC server, said matching inventorydata; and in response to said first wireless mobile communication devicereceiving said matching inventory data, triggers an alert.
 8. Theapparatus according to claim 7, wherein said first inventory data isfurther configured to identify at least one of: one or more resourcesavailable of said first wireless mobile communication device to saidsecond wireless mobile communication device and one or more resourcesrequired by said first wireless mobile communication device.
 9. Theapparatus according to claim 8, wherein said matching inventory dataidentifies said one or more resources required by said first wirelessmobile communication device that are available from said second wirelessmobile communication device.
 10. A computer program product comprisingsoftware code and stored on a non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium that is loadable into an internal memory of a data processingsystem, and that when run on the data processing system, causes the dataprocessing system to perform a method for distributing inventory datafor a distributed cache provided by a plurality of wireless mobilecommunication devices, said method comprising: receiving, at adistributed cache (DC) server, first inventory data from a firstwireless mobile communication device, said first inventory dataidentifying one or more data resources associated with said firstwireless mobile communication device; receiving, at the DC server,second inventory data from a second wireless mobile communicationdevice, said second inventory data identifying one or more dataresources associated with said second wireless mobile communicationdevice; the DC server comparing said first inventory data and saidsecond inventory data to identify one or more matching data resources;and in response to identifying one or more matching data resources, theDC server sending, to said first wireless mobile communication device, amatching inventory data that identifies said one or more matching dataresources, wherein said matching inventory data enables said firstwireless mobile communication device to access each of said one or morematching data resources stored on said second wireless mobilecommunication device.
 11. The computer program product according toclaim 10, wherein said matching inventory data further comprises anidentification of said second wireless mobile communication device, andwherein said matching inventory data enables said first wireless mobilecommunication device to initiate a connection directly with said secondwireless mobile communication device.
 12. The computer program productaccording to claim 10, wherein said sending of said matching inventorydata to said first wireless mobile communication device is performedusing a first wireless communication network, and wherein said firstwireless mobile communication device and second wireless mobilecommunication device create a peer-to-peer network that enables saidaccess by said first wireless mobile communication device to said one ormore matching data resources stored on said second wireless mobilecommunication device.
 13. The computer program product according toclaim 10, wherein the software code further comprising code that causesthe data processing system to perform the method comprising the DCserver determining a location of said first wireless mobilecommunication device and said second wireless mobile communicationdevice; wherein said matching inventory data is sent to said firstwireless mobile communication device only if said first wireless mobilecommunication device and said second wireless mobile communicationdevice are within a predetermined proximity.
 14. The computer programproduct according to claim 13, wherein said location is a predictedproximity determined for a predetermined future time period.
 15. Thecomputer program product according to claim 10, wherein an inventorydata of data resources comprises one or more of: a data subscription, adata topic, a data category, a data item, a search term, a userpreference, or a user interest.
 16. The computer program productaccording to claim 10, wherein said first wireless mobile communicationdevice: compiles said first inventory data on said first wireless mobilecommunication device; sends said first inventory data to said DC server;and receives said matching inventory data from said DC server.
 17. Thecomputer program product according to claim 16, wherein said firstwireless mobile communication device: in response to receiving saidmatching inventory data, triggers a alert.
 18. The computer programproduct according to claim 16, wherein said first inventory data isfurther configured to identify at least one of one or more resourcesavailable of said first wireless mobile communication device to saidsecond wireless mobile communication device and one or more resourcesrequired by said first wireless mobile communication device.
 19. Thecomputer program product according to claim 18, wherein said matchinginventory data identifies said one or more resources required by saidfirst wireless mobile communication device that are available from saidsecond wireless mobile communication device.